IOWA CITY — A Muscatine man is accused of throwing a hammer at a police officer’s head.

According to an Iowa City police criminal complaint, an officer responded to the intersection of Burlington and Madison streets around 8 p.m. Saturday for a report of a man throwing things into the street. There, police made contact with 53-year-old Martin L. Reisen, who officers said they had spoken with earlier in the day.

Police said Reisen grew “very irate” during the encounter and ignored the officer’s command. Reisen allegedly picked up a hammer and held it “threateningly.” The officer drew his Taser on Reisen, but did not deploy it, according to the complaint.

Reisen threw his hammer at the officer and narrowly missed him. He then took a swing at the officer and hit him near the ear, police said.

Reisen was taken to the ground and handcuffed. He was arrested and faces one count of assault on persons in certain occupations with the intent to injury, a Class D felony. If convicted, he could spend up to five years in prison.

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